Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom:Japan-UK Science and Technology Partnership

We, the Prime Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom share a common aim of using science and technology to meet the challenges and opportunities which face us. We share the view that science and technology are keys in the 21st century to continuing the economic development of our countries, improving the quality of life of our people and the rest of the world, and protecting the environment.

Independently, both Japan and the United Kingdom have identified similar fields of high priority - particularly in the fields of life sciences, nanotechnology and materials, information and communication technologies, and the environment. Both Japan and the United Kingdom contain world class centres of research and development (R&D) expertise in these fields as a result of both countries' commitment to increasing spending on R&D in recent years.

We believe that, by working together on issues of international concern in the area of science and technology, Japan and the United Kingdom can further contribute to the betterment of the international community. We emphasise the importance of working together for the success of the ITER project. And we reaffirm our commitment to the G8 Action Plan on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development that was jointly announced with the other G8 leaders in Evian last month, including cooperation in Global Observation and Energy Technologies. In this context, we also reaffirm our willingness to cooperate closely for activities of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) on the next generation nuclear energy systems. The potential for unregulated and unrestricted scientific research raises ethical, safety, environmental, and social questions which need to be addressed. The United Kingdom welcomes and supports Japan's initiative of hosting a Science and Technology for Society Forum (STS Forum) to be held in Japan in November 2004.

We welcome the significant and extensive bilateral cooperation in science and technology to date between our countries. Under the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan on Co-operation in Science and Technology signed in 1994, there are already many examples of our scientists and researchers working together in our universities and research institutes. Companies have also developed strong links with universities in each other's country. The Joint Committee established under the Agreement has been held successfully on a regular basis. Japan particularly welcomes and acknowledges the significance of the United Kingdom's campaign, "Innovation UK" with a series of events related to science and technology throughout this year in Japan.

Today we announce collaborative initiatives in two areas in line with the existing co-operative activities under the Agreement. These are:

1.	Encouraging collaboration and networks between our leading experts
	Since 2001, pilot networking projects have taken place in the fields of global climate modelling, nanotechnology, life sciences and the hydrogen economy. These have already succeeded in developing beneficial contacts between the leading experts in these fields in Japan and the United Kingdom and joint research is already proceeding as a result of this initiative. For instance, our experts in global climate modelling are working together using Japan's Earth Simulator to develop more precise predictions of climate change and its effects.
	We determined to continue this initiative as a "Japan-UK Joint Programme on Emerging Technologies". To take this forward, we have decided to each appoint a senior and respected scientific figure to review our activities, to identify future potential areas of joint discussion, and to advise the Joint Committee on appropriate action. We encourage the Joint Committee to discuss the detailed role of the appointed scientists and implementation of this initiative at their next Joint Committee in the year 2004.
2.	Promoting the exchange of younger researchers
	While the above-mentioned programme will bring together the leading experts in both countries, we believe it is also important to encourage the exchange of researchers and ideas at earlier stages of their careers. We note that there are already in place many schemes organised by the Government of Japan and of the United Kingdom and scientific societies. We encourage the Joint Committee to monitor the effectiveness of these schemes and to examine ways of minimising the adverse effects on exchanges arising from factors, such as distance and language.
	In this context, the United Kingdom welcomes the measures by the Government of Japan to internationalise its research environment. These measures, which were announced in the Second Science and Technology Basic Plan adopted in 2001, include improving the environment for the excellent foreign researchers to continue their activities in Japanese public institutes. We welcome the extension of the "UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)'s Japan Partnering Awards" and the introduction of new flexible fellowship scheme "JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Short-term) for North American and European Researchers" by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
	We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the special partnership on science and technology between Japan and the United Kingdom and to increase bilateral co-operation throughout this Japan-UK Science and Technology Partnership.